The Rotaract Clubs of Ngong Road, Nairobi Central, and USIU-Africa hosted the inaugural Impact Ink 2026 Youth Storytelling Summit at the USIU-Africa Amphitheatre on Saturday, October 31.
The event convened emerging communicators, PR practitioners, and digital creators to address AI integration, content monetization, and narrative ownership in East Africa’s media landscape.
Throughout the summit, speakers urged young Africans to move beyond consuming content and become active creators of stories that shape public understanding.
Discussions emphasized narrative ownership in a digital media environment where young people have unprecedented tools to publish their work and influence change.
Returning to her alma mater 18 years after her studies, Janet Kemboi, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Africa at Google, delivered the keynote address and led a masterclass on practical Google Gemini workflows for research, narrative structuring, and audience engagement.
“AI is here to stay, and Africans must actively embrace these tools if we are to move forward and shape our own narratives on the global stage,” said Kemboi. “AI will not replace your job, but the communicators and creators who master it will inevitably lead the industry.”
An industry plenary panel titled “Why We Should Tell Impactful Stories” brought together Richard “Astar” Njau, Founder of Cleaning The Airwaves (CTA); Mwende Mulandi, General Manager of Marketing Communications at SBM Bank Kenya; Chienjo Omondi, Founder of Chienjo Create; and influencer marketer Gigi Wandera.
The discussion highlighted the importance of staying true to one’s core vision from the start, demonstrating how creators can preserve authentic narrative identity through strategic brand alignment and audience trust.
“Impact Ink was created to directly address the growing skills gap among young people entering the communications landscape. As a platform built by young people for young people, it gives us what we need to succeed in an ever-evolving space and tell our own stories,” said Austine Itebete, President of the Rotaract Club of Ngong Road.
Impact Ink will return as an annual summit in 2027.
